"Hell no, I'm not going to stick around and wait for the roamers to kill my little sister!" yelled Bobby.
"Wait! No, Bobby!" exclaimed Lori in worry.
She grasped her walkie-talkie vast concern and waited for a response.
"He's running towards the herd. Should we follow him," said Vonda.
"It's too dangerous!" reported Lori.
"Which is why we're going to make sure he doesn't fight off the roamers alone. I'm sure you wouldn't sit still worrying whether your sister was dead or not as well."
"Well, I have no choice right now. Alright! Please don't do anything rash! We'll find you guys! Where are you?"
"We're about a mile to the right of the highway. We're heading closer to the highway in a southwest direction.
Lori and her group scrambled to Bobby and the other's location. Meanwhile, an arrow flew and hit the roamer on top of Lola, splattering blood over her face. She froze in fear as Lynn kept shooting roamers close to Lola. After shooting her six arrows, Lynn panicked and noticed that Lola had not budged all.
"Lola!" screamed Lynn. "Come! Lola!"
Lola quickly snapped out of her trance of fear and stood up. She ran towards Lynn, only to be stopped by a roamer who grabbed onto her hair. As Clyde and Lana entered the market, they looked back at Lola and watched in fear of what would come next. Lincoln rushed out of the market and headed towards the roamers.
Jason who was already running towards the roamers reloaded his gun and took aim. Just as the roamer was about to bite down on Lola right shoulder it was shot in the head and more fell on Lola's face as the roamer fell and dropping Lola to the ground.
"Not today fuckers!" yelled Jason.
Jason grabbed Lola and quickly rushed her inside the market with Lincoln following close behind. Carol and Francisco closed the doors and tied a steel chain around the door handles. The roamers banged on the door. Lana hugged Lola as she hugged her back sobbing a little out of fear.
"What happened?" asked Luan, who was preoccupied with keeping Lily safe from the roamers.
"Lola almost got bit, I got to her just in time, she's just a little frightened that's all, hey Lola you aright," said Jason.
Both Lana and Lola looked up at Jason they then jumped up and hugged him very tightly catching him by surprise.
"Thank you for saving Lola I thought I was going to lose her," said Lana.
"Thank you so much for saving me I so scared," said Lola.
"Hey it's ok I'm just glad I got to you in time," said Jason hugged them back.
"Lisa how bad is Dana's condition," asked Jason.
"My sincere apologies, Dana. Her condition is more life-threatening," said Lisa.
"It's fine, Lisa. 'Tis but a scratch," forcefully giggled Dana.
Lola was still hugging Lana not wanting to let go Lana felt the same way not wanting to let go of Lola either. Lincoln was grateful to Jason for saving his little sister's life Lynn was grateful to him to happy that her sister is ok.
Should I give her some oxycodone? To use as painkillers?" suggested Carol, before realizing what had happened to her drugs.
"Ms. Pringrey... " Lisa attempted to explain.
"Yeah... I forgot Lori took them away."
Lynn grabbed a water bottle from a non-functioning freezer for Dana to drink. Dana gulped the water bottle and asked for more. The roamers kept smashing on the door, weakening it every minute that passed by. Lynn tried to look for an exit and found stairs to the second floor. Suddenly, Clyde popped the question.
"Should we tell the other groups?"
"No! We need to stay as quiet as possible so the roamers can go somewhere else!" whispered back Lincoln.
"He's correct," said Lisa.
"We could at least wait on the second floor," said Lynn.
"Yes! higher ground equals higher chance of survival!" said Lisa.
Meanwhile, Bobby spotted the herd from the distance. They noticed an opening that the roamers had created.
"Guys! The herd has surrounded that tiny building there!" said Bobby.
"So what do we do?" asked Chunk.
"Honestly, I have no idea. I could shoot my gun and distract them to lead them away from the store."
"That's stupid!" yelled Tabby. "You're going to get yourself killed."
Bobby and his group rushed in closer to the herd. Bobby aimed his Luger at the roamers and shot them in the head, the best he could. The herd diverted its attention on Bobby's group and chased them.
"See! What the fuck, Bobby!" yelled Tabby.
The group ran into the building next to the mini-markit. Chunk and Bobby quickly barricaded the door with cabinets. The herd was now attempting to attack not only Lynn's group but Bobby's group as well. Tabby shook her head and punched Bobby in the shoulder.
"Lori! Where are you?" asked Bobby. "We need help!"
"I'm heading back to the highway! What happened?"
"My group and I are trapped in a store! I tried to divert the roamers away from a market that they were flocking around, but things didn't go as planned!"
"Carol! Turn off your walkie-talkie!" whispered Lynn loudly.
Carol turned it off quickly and looked at the group.
"Did you hear that? That's where those gunshots came from! From Bobby!" Carol whispered worriedly. "Now they are stuck as well as us!"
"Perfect. Just perfect. Let's move up stairs," muttered Lynn.
Francisco and Lynn helped Dana climb up the stairs. The roamers kept smashing on the door. Luan, Lana and Lola climb up the stairs as well. The roamers continue to smash on the door and windows. suddenly, the door collapsed after taking so many hits form the roamers.
"David! How far are you in leading the herd way?" asked Lori through the walkie-talkie.
David move slowly on an empty road. Sergei looked away and only saw miles emptiness with a few vehicles here and there.
"I'm pretty far. However, it could take a couple of hours until I actually lead the herd into the lake. Sorry, Lori."
Lori couldn't admit it. She couldn't admit that she had no idea what to do. She couldn't drive the RV down the hill or else she would damage the vehicle and injure the passengers. She also couldn't repeat Bobby's mistake to lead the herd away. She truly did have to wait for the herd to leave the building that they were trying to break into. Lori was unaware that her friend was seriously injured. Lori was unaware that the roamers already broken inside the mini-markit that Lynn, Luan, Lincoln, Lola, Lana, Lisa, Lily, Jason, Carol, Francisco, Ronnie Anne, Dana, and Clyde were held up in.
"Alright, everyone. Just sit still. Wait for the herd to get away," said Lori choking on the fact that she couldn't do anything.
Luan, Jason, Lincoln, Ronnie Anne, Lisa, and Clyde quickly ran up the stairs. The roamers chased after them. Luan made her way to the top while holding Lily. Jason, Lincoln, and Ronnie Anne rushed to the top while helping Lisa push the roamers away from her Clyde struggled to run up the stairs as the roamers were grabbing his shoes.
"Lincoln!" yelled Clyde.
Lincoln rushed back down the stairs to help Clyde. The roamer held on to Clyde's left foot and moved their way up to his ankle. Lincoln tried to push them away, but the roamers grabbed his sledgehammer. Lincoln was left unarmed from the roamers as he shrugged to free Clyde from the hungry roamer the held on to his best friend's leg.
"AHH!" yelled Clyde, as the roamer scratched his ankle.
The roamer pulled Clyde closer to the herd. The roamers squeezed each other in the narrow stairwell, but the roamer on the front didn't give up Clyde's leg. It pulled Clyde's leg closer and closer to it's mouth. Jason ran pulled out his gun and tried to shoot the roamer on Clyde's leg, but when he pulled the trigger nothing happened he was out of ammo. Lynn ran pass Jason to the stairwell and grabbed her baseball bat.
"I can't reach the roamer... " whispered Lynn.
With one swift moment, the roamer bit Clyde's calf. The pang of the bite caused Clyde to yell at the top of his lungs. Attracting the herd, the stairwell became more packed with roamers. Lincoln pulled Clyde up the stairs, causing the roamer to rip his calf apart.
"Oh god!" explained Carol, watch blood from Clyde's leg spill all over the stairwell.
Francisco grabbed a shelf case and drop it down the stairwell. The shelf case toppled down the stairs and crushed the roamer's bloody head. The shelf case also served as a barricade to pervert any roamer from crawling their way up the stairs.
"NO! NO! CLYDE!" cried Lynn. "LISA DO SOMETHING!"
We're out of antibiotics," Lisa said regretfully.
"Can't we do anything!" cried Lincoln.
Clyde shuddered at the sight of his leg. He looked at Lincoln. Grabbing his arms, and whispered. "It's been nice knowing you, buddy."
"No! Don't say than!" cried Lynn hopelessly. "Lisa! Please, what do we do?"
Lisa took out her wound spray but did not use it on Clyde's left leg. Lisa sprayed it on the machete and grabbed more paper towels. She wiped the machete clean. Lincoln's hair roused and he knew what was going to happen next. Lynn grabbed Clyde's hand and couldn't hold back her tears. She released her tears on Clyde's chest. Lola and Lana held tight to Luan, as she wiped her tears. Dana closed her eyes, knowing that she did not need to grasp the vision of suffering. Lisa held Dana's machete up.
"Now would be the time for anyone to volunteer in the amputation of Clyde's lower left limb. Every second matters. We need to pervert the infection from reaching his cerebrum."
Lynn grabbed the machete from Lisa and released her grip on Clyde's hand. Lincoln grabbed a pillow nearby as they in the room and handed it to Clyde.
"Alright, keep the machine steady. Lincoln! Grab your belt and tie it around Clyde's left thigh, Aim for the knee," instructed Lisa.
Francisco looked at Clyde with remorse. He was unable to muster the strength to apologize to Clyde.
"I love you guys. If I don't make it. Carry on and don't let my death hold you back," gasped Clyde.
"Don't say that, Clyde! You're not dying. Not on my watch!" whimpered Lynn.
"Hopefully not," whispered Clyde.
"Clyde, I'm so sorry..." sobbed Lynn, holding the machete higher and higher.
"It's alright."
Lynn yelled as she gathered all of her strength to swing the machete downwards. Clyde's knee was only sliced halfway through, making Clyde gasp before he fell unconscious. Lynn swung the machete downwards again and again. Each swing terrified the group. The blood splattered on Lynn's face, on her cheeks, nose, forehead, hair, and chin. Lincoln cried on Clyde's arms. Lynn dropped the blood-filled machete and hugged Clyde.
"Sorry, big brother and big sister, but I need you guys to give me some space! I need to pervent him from bleeding out!" said Lisa.
Lynn and Lincoln hugged each other. Tears running down they face, they focus on Lisa wrapping Clyde's leg. Using the sheets from the bed in the room they were in, she was unable to tie it around Clyde's thigh. Using the strings from her sweater, she was able to sew Clyde's leg quickly, before wrapping the leg in the mattress.
"That should do it. It's done," sighed Lisa.
"That was quick," commented Francisco.
"Time is relative, Francisco. It seemed as if I was performing the procedure for half a century."
"When will Clyde wake up?" asked Carol.
"Honestly, I don't even know if he will," replied Lisa.
"He will wake trust me on this you did good Lisa he will live to see another day," said Jason.
Lisa sighed in relief hearing this, knowing that Clyde will wake up.
The thunder of the herd continuously rumbled behind David and Sergei for hours. David and Sergei made a turn towards Lake Erie. As soon as all the roamers in the herd was accounted for, the drivers sped away from the herd.
"Looks like the herd is gone," said Sergei in his walkie-talkie.
"Time to head back to the group," said David.
"Why don't we contact them first?"
"We are dozens of miles away. The walkie-talkies can't reach the few. Besides, I'm sure nothing too urgent occurred in the town. Let's ride back now."
The trip back to town took hours just as the ride to Lake Erie. Most of the time was consumed by the roamer's slow pace. The trip back to the tiny town was not that long. The moon rose, and David and Sergei were still miles away from Lori's group.
Carol scavenged the room above the mini-markit for food, but couldn't find any. Bobby and his group couldn't find any food or water as well. Lori couldn't contact the groups since she knew they were trying to stay as quiet as possible. Lisa made a fire by burning wood from a mattress. This provided light for the group. In the adjacent building, the moonlight shone through the window, on the group.
"I'm so hungry, Bobby," sighed Darcy.
"When the sun comes out, we will get food. For now, we have to sit still and wait for the monsters to go away, okay?" whispered Bobby.
Darcy slowly nodded her head, understanding more of the world she was living in. She closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
"It appears that Clyde is in a comatose condition," started Lisa. "Dana is unconscious, as indicated by her pulse. However, if we don't get these two people proper treatment soon, then they are going to have bigger problems.
"Don't worry too much Lisa, if I'm right, and I think I am, I'm pretty sure David and Sergei are making there way back now," said Jason.
"I hope your right Jason. I really do because but how badly Dana and Clyde's injuries are, all we can do is wait for help to arrive," replied Lisa.
"It will, I know it will all we have to do is hold out a little longer," said Jason.
"Alright, remember, Sergei. On three. Two. One. Honk!"
David and Sergei honked on their horns, attracting the herd. Their lower beams shone on the road away from Washington Mini-Markit and the building text to it. The herd followed the slow-moving vehicles.
"Feeling tired, Sergei?"asked David.
"Not at all, David," replied Sergei.
"Everyone! Look! David and Sergei are leading the herd away!" whispered Carol.
"Just in time I was getting tired of waiting, all right people let's move out!" whispered Jason.
Lincoln wiped his tears and tapped on Lynn's shoulder. Lynn wiped her tears and handed her baseball bat to Lincoln, who reluctantly grabbed it. Lincoln walked over to Carol and handed her the baseball bat to carrying. Lincoln walked back over to Lynn and Clyde's unconscious body. Francisco, how was still shocked by the suffering that Lynn and Clyde faced. Shamefully looked at the boy he once beat senseless. Francisco walked over to Dana and lifted her up. Lynn picked up Clyde and waited for the barricade to be removed. Lily was crying loudly for she needed food. Luan lifted Lily up and grabbed Lana's hand who then grabbed Lola's hand. Jason, Carol, and Ronnie Anne pushed the barricade further down the stairs and opened up the stairwell.
"Hang back, guys! Jason, Carol, and I got this," said Ronnie Anne.
Ronnie Anne, Carol, and Jason killed the few roamers inside the mini-markit. Carol swung the baseball bat with her right hand and Dana's machete with her left hand. After clearing a path for the group, they walked out into the unlit town and killed the two roamers that lurked out of the adjacent building. Carol knocked on the cabinet.
"You can leave now. The roamers left. Well, David and Sergei drove them away. Come out," informed Carol.
The cabinet moved and reviled Bobby and Chuck. Bobby looked at Ronnie Anne and hugged her. He looked at her face and noticed the trauma in her eyes.
"What happened?" asked Bobby.
The group stepped forward. Bobby's eyes widened as he saw Dana with a red handkerchief around her abdomen. He stepped up and helped Francisco lift her up. Next, he looked at Clyde and gasped upon seeing his left leg, or the lack thereof.
"Bobby, are you guys safe?" asked Lori in the walkie-talkie. "I heard David and Sergei drove the herd away."
"Yes, my group and I are safe now," responded Bobby.
"Alright, I'm going to lead the others back to the highway. Do you guys need help returning to the highway?"
"No. Lori, we can get back on our own."
"Okay, get back soon. I don't want to stay out in the open any longer than I have to. Especially at night."
"Okay I'm leading the rest of the group back to the highway."
Bobby handed Chunk's walkie-talkie back to him and continued carrying the unconscious Dana. With the moonlight as the only source of light, Bobby and the other walked carefully to the highway.
"What happened to Dana?" Bobby asked.
"She was lacerated by a crushed door of a vehicle," replied Lisa.
"And Clyde?"
"Bit by a roamer."
Bobby started tearing up.
"Where's Leni?" asked Bobby.
"I thought she was with you!" exclaimed Carol.
"Oh no..." gasped Bobby.
"Shit, I forgot to grabbed Leni when the herd came, I knew I was forgetting something!" said Jason, as he smacked his forehead.
"Jason be honest is Leni... dead?" asked Bobby nervously.
"No, she's not dead, but she's not okay either," replied Jason.
"What do you mean?" asked Carol.
""She's inside the RV, Leni is safe, but she's hurt," said Jason.
"Hurt how what happened to her?" asked Bobby.
"She ate some of Carol drugs thinking they were food she nearly killed herself," replied Jason.
"Oh my god!" whispered Carol.
Lori, Luna, Benny, Missy, Richard, Sam, D, Wavehead, Becky, and Tad arrived back at the highway. They spotted a couple of roamers lurking around the RV and Vanzilla. Lori swung her golf club at the roamers lurking outside Vanzilla. Luna struck the roamers outside the RV with her crowbar. Benny stabbed a roamer that was wandering on the road.
"Why were the roamers lurking outside the RV?" wondered Luna.
She went inside and gasped in shock. The group ran inside the RV to see what frightened Luna.
"What is it, Luna?" worriedly asked Lori, coming inside the RV. "Dear God! Leni!"
Leni was lying on the floor, wheezing. A pile of vomit lurked near her along with white pills and colorful snickers.
"Leni? Can you hear me?" cried Lori.
"Lori? Thank goodness you're here. Can you... bring me some water and food? I'm dying of thirst and hunger. Literally, I think."
"Yes Richard, bring a bottle of water and a granola bar! Oh, Leni, did you swallow those drugs!"
"They were drugs? No wonder I feel so... terrible."
Richard arrived back at the RV, with a bottle of water and a granola bar. He handed it to Lori. Lori helped lift Leni up. She took the water bottle and took many tiny ships.
Guys! Look outside! I think it's the group coming back!" exclaimed Sam.
Missy stayed with Leni while the rest of the group left the RV to reunite with the other. Chunk and Vonda poked their hands through the bushes first. Luna and Sam waved at Chunk, but he did not wave back. Next, Tabby, Liam, Zach, and Rusty walked through the bushes and onto the highway. Carol held Darcy's hand as they reviled themselves as well. Lori looked agitated. But then saw Bobby and Francisco carrying Dana. Tad and Becky gasped and looked at Dana's wound. Next, Lynn walked with Lincoln and Ronnie Anne while carrying Clyde.
"Oh god! What happened to him?" asked Lori, tears starting to from in her eyes.
Lynn, Lincoln, and Ronnie Anne did not respond. Luan walked through the bushes while holding a weeping Lily. Jason, Lola, Lana, and Lisa were the last ones to appear, while Jason was holding Lola and Lana's hands.
Bobby laid Dana on the couch inside the RV. While Lisa ordered Lynn to carry Clyde inside the RV.
"What happened while I was gone?" asked Lori, still weeping.
"We were running away... from the herd. Dana fell down the hill and punctured her abdomen with a car door..." exclaimed Carol.
Lisa grabbed a fresh towel and wrapped it around Dana's left abdomen. Leni and Missy watch in shock. Lisa walked over to Clyde who lied on the carpeted floor and put on a pair of nonlatex gloves. Lisa grabbed a suture of threads. She began stitching Clyde's leg.
"...Clyde was bitten in the leg..."
Lisa continued stitching Clyde's leg and grabbed another towel to clean the leg.
"Lynn amputated Clyde to save his life..."
Lisa grabbed another pair of nonlatex gloves and wrapped a large bandage around Clyde's leg.
"...Dana went unconscious..."
Lisa sewed Dana's cut together, while Lynn took of Clyde's glasses and looked at his eyelids.
"Lana you go back to fixing the RV, Lola you go with her, I need to talk with Lori," said Jason, with a soft voice.
Lana nodded her head and walked to the RV, Jason gave Lola his buck knife to protect Lana and herself. Lola followed her and the group to protect her from the roamers.
"Lori tell me how do you feel right now," asked Jason.
"I... I feel like it my false fault this happened," said Lori, wiping her tears away. "Dana got injured and Clyde lost his leg and I didn't do anything," said Lori.
"It's not your fault that this happened I know this was going to happen to them, but I so concerned about Lola that I wasn't thinking straight and made some mistakes," Jason said, filling guilty.
"What do you mean... way were you so concerned about Lola?" asked Lori.
"Lori, Lola was supposes to dead today. In the original timeline she gets bit and turns she almost got too Lana, and then Ronnie Anne had put her down for good, but I made sure that didn't happen," said Jason.
"Oh god!" whispered Lori, started to cry.
Jason walked over to Lori, and hugged her, and she returned the hug.
"Lori listen I believe you have what it takes to be a leader, but you're not ready not yet, right now what you need to do is make sure your siblings make it to Houlton safe and I promise you that I will protect you all the best I can do." said Jason.
"Okay I will, and thank you for saving my little sister."
"Don't mention it."
In the morning David and Sergei returned to the highway. They were informed of what happened during the herd attack. David allowed Lisa to treat Dana, Clyde, and Leni in the RV. Lori and Jason walked over to David who was making a campfire with Richard on the left side of the road.
"David, I need to talk to you. Me and Jason talk about my leadership and after realizing what I could've done in order to prevent the horrors from occurring to the group, I decided that I can't be the leader. I was responsible for being unable to prepare the group for a possible herd attack. I sat still and did not while my group was being attacked and surrounded by roamers. I sat still and did not while my group was starving, dying, bleeding out, inside a building."
Lori looked at the group sorrowfully eating their breakfast.
"I was too stubborn to realize that I can't handle the rules of this world. Too stubborn to realize that you can... and that is way I'm making you the leader of the group. It can't be me. I have too much to lose. I need to keep my family safe I almost lost Lola if it wasn't for Jason she wouldn't be here."
Lori left Jason with David while she walked over to Bobby. David took of his shades and looked on the horizon of the road ahead of them. The herd that attacked the group hit hard. He was not happy that Lori had to learn the hard way, but it was a relief that she did. He knew that there were future threats of roamers in the journey ahead.
David looked at one of the roamers in the road and noticed that it wore a booth worker uniform. He and James walked closer to the dead roamer and couldn't recognize the face since it was crushed. He titled the roamer over and saw the piranha tattoo. He through of how dangerous a small gang could be as Carlos demonstrated. He then thought as they ventured further into New York, closer to Albany, how dangerous a large criminal syndicate would be. David was reminded of one thing: Roamers weren't the only threat in this dangerous new world.
Jason was thinking about the dangers the group was going to face and hope that he can save more lives for what's about to come.
"Were going to have a lot of problems David very soon, and I'm not talking about the roamers," said Jason.
"I know let's trying to avoid the piranhas as much as possible best not to get involved," said David.
Jason nodded his head but he knew they would get involved no matter what he did and he's was fine with that.
"Well I'm looking forward to meeting you George," muttered Jason.